1. What size of BioEconomy Growth Fund does NITI Aayog's 'Roadmap for Building India as a Leading Bioeconomy Powerhouse by 2035' propose?
Answer: A. The fund, for 2026-2035, is meant to close the 'Valley of Death' between lab research and commercial output using blended finance, equity-risk funding, VGF and infrastructure support. The goal is a Top 3 biotech position by 2035, with priority on biomanufacturing, advanced therapeutics, synthetic biology, fermentation and diagnostics.
2. Among the six National BioMissions proposed by NITI Aayog, which pairing is correct?
Answer: D. GeneIndia covers affordable gene and cell therapy, BioX Foundry synthetic biology commercialisation, One Health Grid integrated surveillance of infectious diseases and AMR, the Marine Biotechnology Mission seaweed and marine bio-products, and BioPharmaNext biologics, biosimilars and AI-enabled drug discovery. AgriBio 2.0 deals with climate-resilient gene-edited crops and biological inputs.
3. From what date would the draft CAFE III (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) norms for passenger vehicles take effect?
Answer: C. The draft, open for comments for 21 days, applies to M1 passenger vehicles of up to 8 seats besides the driver, both made and imported. CAFE sets fleet-average fuel efficiency or CO₂ limits for manufacturers, nudging them toward EVs, hybrids and renewable fuels like E20, ethanol, CNG and CBG.
4. What is the aim of the PARIVARTAN Scheme, whose operational guidelines MoHUA approved?
Answer: E. The name expands to Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions. This Central scheme under the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry swaps aged high-emission commercial vehicles in the NCR for cleaner ones, to improve air quality and cut greenhouse gases.
5. According to WTTC's Economic Impact Research Report 2026, what share of India's GDP does tourism account for in 2026?
Answer: B. The share is projected to reach 7.0% by 2036, with the sector growing at a 6.3% CAGR over 2026-2036, faster than the economy's 5.7%. It supports 48.1 million jobs (11.1%) in 2026, rising to 63.5 million by 2036; foreign visitors spend ₹3.3 lakh crore, with the US (11%), Bangladesh (10%) and UK (7%) the top 2025 source countries.
6. After more than 60 years, the Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is back in which forest following a reintroduction effort?
Answer: A. The Gujarat Forest Department's programme brought it back to Gir. It is a medium-sized tree-dwelling bird of the hornbill family Bucerotidae, endemic to the Indian subcontinent, and rated Least Concern by IUCN.
7. What outlay was approved by the Union Cabinet for the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS)?
Answer: D. The five-year scheme, FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, seeks to expand handset manufacturing, domestic value addition, local component sourcing, Indian mobile brands and R&D, while lowering import reliance and strengthening supply chains.
8. In the growth figures for FY2012-FY2024 cited in the producer-controlled cooperatives debate, which sector grew the most?
Answer: B. Milk rose 85% and fruits and vegetables 52%, whereas subsidy-driven paddy and wheat managed just 27%, suggesting producer-led sectors do better. Economist Nitin Desai favours the Amul model, begun at Anand in 1946 by Tribhuvandas Patel under Dr. Verghese Kurien, for Agrivoltaics under PM-KUSUM; NDDB dates from 1965 and Operation Flood from 1970.
9. What does 'Agrivoltaics (Agri-PV)' mean?
Answer: C. Panels are mounted over the crops so farmers earn from both farming and electricity, using land better, saving irrigation water and generating clean power. PM-KUSUM (2019, MNRE) backs it through grid-connected plants (A), standalone pumps (B) and solarised existing pumps (C); with farms averaging 1.08 hectares, cooperatives help pool land, investment and profit.
10. At ICAR Foundation Day 2026, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asked scientists to create what kind of solutions for pulses and oilseeds?
Answer: E. Speaking at ICAR's 98th Foundation Day, he sought high-yielding non-GMO varieties, with approval of GM Mustard DMH-11 still pending, and stressed crop diversification, climate-smart farming for 2047 goals, home-grown fertilizer answers and El Niño contingency plans. ICAR, set up in 1929 and based in New Delhi, falls under the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry.
11. The National Investment Policy for Urea (NIPU) 2026 plans 8-9 new gas-based urea plants. How much yearly capacity would they add?
Answer: D. India uses about 40 MT of urea a year, makes around 30 MT and imports roughly 10 MT, a quarter of use; the West Asia conflict and Hormuz disruption lifted urea prices 40-50%. The policy separates fixed and variable costs, sets a 12-16% return-on-equity band and converts fixed costs to rupees after four years to reduce forex risk.
12. The recommended N:P:K nutrient ratio for healthy soil is 4:2:1. What is India's present ratio, as noted in the NIPU 2026 context?
Answer: A. That figure points to overuse of nitrogen, mainly urea, which is a soil health worry and the reason balanced fertilisation is being pushed.
13. Which state was first in India to pass a Women Farmers Empowerment Act (2026), recognising women as farmers even when they own no land?
Answer: C. It was enacted during the UN-observed International Year of the Woman Farmer. The law defines a woman farmer broadly (crops, livestock, poultry, fisheries, agro-forestry, vermiculture, mushrooms, primary processing), includes owners, tenants and labourers, and issues a Woman Farmer Certificate via the Gram Sabha or Nagar Panchayat so land ownership is not needed for schemes, supported by a digital registry and an Empowerment Fund.
14. Which ocean scientist, who helped build India's Tsunami Early Warning System, was named Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)?
Answer: B. He takes up the post for two years and is expert in satellite oceanography, coastal hazard mitigation and disaster management.
15. The UN issued its first scientific assessment report on which technology, cautioning that it is developing faster than governance can keep up?
Answer: E. The report says AI progress is outstripping global governance and urges stronger international regulatory frameworks for safe, responsible and fair AI.
16. Which RBI approval did Delhivery Financial Services obtain?
Answer: D. The Delhivery Ltd subsidiary can now offer credit, insurance, payment solutions and fuel cards to support its logistics ecosystem. Separately, TCS signed a multi-year, multi-million AI-driven Network-as-a-Service deal with ABB.
17. Which group became the fastest new entrant to India's top 10 most valuable brands in the Brand Finance India 100 Report 2026?
Answer: A. The report puts India's top 100 brands at USD 252.8 billion, up 7% year on year. Tata Group stayed on top while Adani raced into the top ten.
18. Who was named Ukraine's new Prime Minister, a one-time CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine?
Answer: E. Parliament appointed him on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's nomination to reinforce governance, energy security and key infrastructure during the continuing conflict.
19. Kerala-based space startup HEX20 sent up its second satellite, 'KOYO' (Kinetic Optical Yaw Observer). On which mission did it fly?
Answer: C. KOYO went up on Transporter-17, a multi-payload flight, as a technology demonstrator for testing advanced space technologies and international payloads.
20. ATREE researchers found two new rare solitary bee species, Elaphropoda triangulata and Habropoda adi, in which region?
Answer: B. The finding highlights the rich biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayas. Separately, MYAS gave the Judo Federation of India conditional recognition so it can run the sport and hold national championships again.
21. 'The Voice of Justice', a book of speeches released by Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, collects the addresses of which Justice?
Answer: A. Its full title is 'The Voice of Justice: Justice Gavai Speaks', and the speeches shed light on constitutional law, judicial reasoning and India's legal system.
22. What was the theme of World Youth Skills Day 2026, marked on 15 July?
Answer: B. Observed by the UN on 15 July, the 2026 theme underlines technical and vocational skills as routes to youth employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
23. Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay launched 'Nalam TN'. What is it?
Answer: E. The chatbot lets people register for OP visits and book appointments at government hospitals online, making care easier to reach and cutting waiting time.
24. Spain's Submer Group announced a USD 2 billion semiconductor investment covering a wafer fab and ATMP facilities. In which state?
Answer: C. The investment will set up wafer fabrication plus assembly, testing, marking and packaging units, supporting the India Semiconductor Mission and domestic chipmaking.
25. India's first hydrogen-powered train, which PM Modi will flag off from Jind station in Haryana, carries safety systems that can detect what?
Answer: D. Multi-layer safety systems on the train sense hydrogen leaks, heat, flames and smoke, a milestone for clean railway transport. Separately, MoFPI and NIFTEM Thanjavur began a pilot short-term skill programme for Assistant Baking Technician (NSQF Level-3) at ITC-ICML, Trichy.